Shike (novel)

Last updated

Shike is a two-volume novel published in 1981 by Robert Shea. It fictionalises and compresses Japanese history in order to incorporate the Genpei War and attempted invasion of Japan by the Mongols within the lifespans of two characters: Jebu, a warrior-monk of mixed parentage (a Mongol father and a Japanese woman) of the Order of Zinja who is a highly fictionalized version of Benkei — and Shima Taniko, the minor noblewoman with whom he falls in love on his first mission — escorting her to an arranged marriage with Prince Horigawa, a far older and extremely influential (but also extremely cunning and malevolent) nobleman. In that regard, the narrative structure of the Shike books bears a close similarity to Shea's 1986 All Things Are Lights , which also focuses on star-crossed lovers.

Contents

The over-all story is about how Jebu and Taniko are forced onto opposing sides of a civil war, and Taniko's growth as a woman whose fate moves her from one powerful man to another, eventually becoming grandmother to a shōgun . In all, the story can be viewed as a tragedy, as Taniko's social importance and Jebu's loyalty to his order will always prevent them from truly being together.

Also focused on is the contrast of hypocrisies between the noble class and warrior class. The nobles consider samurai beneath them but act in many of the barbarous ways that they accuse them of, and the samurai are presented as ruffians of shifting loyalties, despite considering themselves to be genteel and worldly.

Shike posits a clan of grey-clad warrior monks, the "Zinja", which, it is stated by Abbot Taitaro, is related to several other secret societies throughout history, including specifically the White Lotus Society in China, the Hashishim (assassins) in the Middle East, and the Knights Templar in Europe, among others. [1] Through an aside in All Things Are Lights, the Zinja are therefore linked, however tenuously, to Shea's other writings on secret societies, most notably his work with Robert Anton Wilson in The Illuminatus! Trilogy .

Historical Ties

Many characters within Shike are based around actual historical figures.

Free Creative Commons version

In January 2008 Mike Shea link, son of the author Bob Shea, released the book under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike license link

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samurai</span> Military nobility of pre-industrial Japan

Samurai were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in the late 1870s during the Meiji era. They were the well-paid retainers of the daimyo, the great feudal landholders. They had high prestige and special privileges.

The Kamakura shogunate was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minamoto no Yoritomo</span> First shogun of Japan and of the Kamakura Shogunate from 1192 to 1199

Minamoto no Yoritomo was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate and of Japan, ruling from 1192 until 1199, also the first shogun in the history of Japan. He was the husband of Hōjō Masako who acted as regent (shikken) after his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Shea</span> American novelist

Robert Joseph Shea was an American novelist and former journalist best known as co-author with Robert Anton Wilson of the science fantasy trilogy Illuminatus! It became a cult success and was later turned into a marathon-length stage show put on at the British National Theatre and elsewhere. In 1986 it won the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award. Shea went on to write several action novels based in exotic historical settings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taira no Kiyomori</span> Military leader and kugyō of the late Heian period of Japan

Taira no Kiyomori was a military leader and kugyō of the late Heian period of Japan. He established the first samurai-dominated administrative government in the history of Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minamoto clan</span> Surname of Japanese imperial family members demoted into ranks of nobility

Minamoto (源) was a noble surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were excluded from the line of succession and demoted into the ranks of the nobility since 814. The Minamoto was the most powerful and most important clan of all four great clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi and Edo periods in Japanese history—the other three were the Fujiwara, the Taira, and the Tachibana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taira clan</span> Major Japanese clan of samurai

The Taira (平) was one of the four most important clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian, Kamakura and Muromachi periods of Japanese history – the others being the Minamoto, the Fujiwara, and the Tachibana. The clan is divided into four major groups, named after the emperors they descended from: Kanmu Heishi, Ninmyō Heishi, Montoku Heishi, and Kōkō Heishi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamakura period</span> Period of Japanese history from 1185 to 1333, during which the Kamakura shogunate ruled

The Kamakura period is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shōgun Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the Genpei War, which saw the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans. The period is known for the emergence of the samurai, the warrior caste, and for the establishment of feudalism in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minamoto no Yoshitsune</span> 12th-century military commander in the Minamoto clan of feudal Japan

Minamoto no Yoshitsune was a commander of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura periods. During the Genpei War, he led a series of battles that toppled the Ise-Heishi branch of the Taira clan, helping his half-brother Yoritomo consolidate power. He is considered one of the greatest and the most popular warriors of his era, and one of the most famous samurai in the history of Japan. Yoshitsune perished after being betrayed by the son of a trusted ally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genpei War</span> Conflict between the Minamoto and Taira clans of feudal Japan (1180–85)

The Genpei War was a national civil war between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the downfall of the Taira and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto no Yoritomo, who appointed himself as Shōgun in 1192, governing Japan as a military dictator from the eastern city of Kamakura.

<i>The Tale of the Heike</i> Japanese epic compiled prior to 1330

The Tale of the Heike is an epic account compiled prior to 1330 of the struggle between the Taira clan and Minamoto clan for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War (1180–1185). Heike (平家) refers to the Taira (平), hei being the on'yomi reading of the first kanji and "ke" (家) means family. Note that in the title of the Genpei War, "hei" is in this combination read as "pei" and the "gen" (源) is the first kanji used in the Minamoto clan's name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Dan-no-ura</span> 1185 naval battle of the Genpei War

The Battle of Dan-no-ura was a major sea battle of the Genpei War, occurring at Dan-no-ura, in the Shimonoseki Strait off the southern tip of Honshū. On April 25, 1185, the fleet of the Minamoto clan (Genji), led by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, defeated the fleet of the Taira clan (Heike). The morning rip tide was an advantage for the Taira, but turned to their disadvantage in the afternoon. The young Emperor Antoku was one of those who died among the Taira nobles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Uji (1180)</span> 1180 opening battle of the Genpei War

The first battle of Uji is famous and important for having opened the Genpei War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minamoto no Yorimasa</span> 12th-century Japanese poet and military commander

Minamoto no Yorimasa was a Japanese poet, aristocrat and samurai lord. His poetry appeared in various anthologies. He served eight different emperors in his long career, holding posts such as hyōgo no kami. As a general, he led the Minamoto armies at the beginning of the Genpei War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Hōjūjidono</span> Siege in 1184 in Japan

The siege of Hōjūjidono was a siege that took place in Kyoto, Japan in 1184. It was part of the Genpei War and a key element of the conflict between Minamoto no Yoshinaka and his cousins Yoritomo and Yoshitsune for control of the Minamoto clan.

<i>Sōhei</i> Buddhist warrior monks In medieval and feudal Japan

Sōhei were Buddhist warrior monks of both classical and feudal Japan. At certain points in history, they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Ichi-no-Tani</span> Battle in 1184 in Japan

The Battle of Ichi-no-Tani was fought between the offensive Minamoto clan and the defensive Taira clan at Suma, to the west of present-day Kobe, Japan, on 20 March 1184. It sat on a very narrow strip of shore, between mountains on the north, and the sea to the south. This made it quite defensible, but also made it difficult to maneuver troops inside the fortress. The Taira suffered a crucial defeat to the forces of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Minamoto no Noriyori.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taira no Atsumori</span>

Taira no Atsumori (1169–1184) was a samurai of the late Heian period of Japan. He was a member of the Taira clan. He fought in the Genpei War against the Minamoto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minamoto no Yoshiie</span> Leader of the Kawachi Genji (1039–1106)

Minamoto no Yoshiie, also known as Hachimantarō (八幡太郎) and his title Most Valorous Warrior in the Land (天下第一武勇之士), was a Minamoto clan samurai of the late Heian period, and Chinjufu-shōgun.

References

  1. Shike [Book 2]: Last of the Zinja, chap. 10 of part 2, (p. 307)